“One of the big things for me, I always want to help young women and give them insight into life experiences,” she told MTV News on Monday. “One of those things is going through an abusive relationship like I did. But that’s one thing for me. So I don’t want to be the big domestic-violence spokesperson, because that doesn’t define who I am. But if I can help young women in any way, and that being one of the things they need help with, then I’ll do that.”

“It was the biggest weight lifted off my chest,” she told MTV News. “If you watch the interview, you see it was a subject that I didn’t talk about for the eight months that I didn’t talk about it, so that was my first real time opening up. I had a lot of tension bottled up. So when I finally spoke about it, it felt really good. More importantly, it felt good that people got something positive out of it, because it’s devastating. It’s not fun to talk about or listen to, but there are a lot of women who are going through it, a lot of teenagers who are scared to talk about it. So I thought it was a good thing that I can be that voice for them and help them get out of that situation.”

In a statement addition to his MTV interview, which was taped on Monday, he said, “While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8th, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us.”

He then tempered his remarks, adding, “I do appreciate her (Rihanna) support and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did and I accept accountability for my actions.At this point I am taking the proper steps to learn about me and grow from my mistakes. I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well. Abuse of any kind is always wrong.”

Do you think Rihanna should have spoken out sooner?

• Yes... she's totally a role model for other women in the same situation.
• No... she handled it fine and spoke when she was ready.

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After the assault, she awoke to find helicopters circling her house and reporters swarming her street. “I felt like I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears,” she said.

Rihanna said she felt disappointed and taken advantage of, especially when she heard that the two officers under investigation for leaking her photo were women.

“I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life,” she said.

“Domestic violence is a big secret,” Rihanna said. “The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that. I want to give as much insight as I can to young women, because I feel like I represent a voice that really isn’t heard. Now I can help speak for those women.”

Glamour: Let’s talk about this past year—you’ve obviously been through some difficult things. How did the people around you help you cope?
Rihanna: My friends and family have been extremely supportive, and everyone has been there for me. But at some point you are there alone. It’s a lonely place to be—no one can understand. That’s when you get close to God.

Glamour: Are you referring to the [Chris Brown] incident?
Rihanna: I am talking about starting with the night [before] the Grammys and then on. That was not the only thing that occurred this year. The picture leaking…it was one thing after another.

Glamour: You’re talking about the photo [reportedly of Rihanna’s injured face taken by police after Brown assaulted her] that was allegedly leaked by cops. You handled that so well; you kept silent in the press.
Rihanna: It was humiliating; that is not a photo you would show to anybody. I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life. I was disappointed, especially when I found out the photo was [supposedly leaked by] two women.

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